Sensitivities of one-prong tau branching fractions to tau neutrino mass, mixing, and anomalous charged current couplings

We analyse the sensitivities of exclusive one-prong tau branching fractions to: the tau neutrino mass; its mixing with a fourth generation neutrino; the weak charged current magnetic and electric dipole moments of the tau; and the Michel parameter $\eta$. Quantitative constraints are derived from current experimental data and the future constraints derivable from tau-charm factory measurements are estimated. The anomalous coupling constraints are used to constrain the tau compositeness scale and the allowed parameter space for Higgs doublet models.Comment: Invited talk at the Tau-Charm Workshop, 6-9 March 1999, SLAC, US

Graded requirement for the zygotic terminal gene, tailless, in the brain and tail region of the Drosophila embryo

We have used hypomorphic and null tailless (tll) alleles to carry out a detailed analysis of the effects of the lack of tll gene activity on anterior and posterior regions of the embryo. The arrangement of tll alleles into a continuous series clarifies the relationship between the anterior and posterior functions of the tll gene and indicates that there is a graded sensitivity of anterior and posterior structures to a decrease in tll gene activity. With the deletion of both anterior and posterior pattern domains in tll null embryos, there is a poleward expansion of the remaining pattern. Using anti-horseradish peroxidase staining, we show that the formation of the embryonic brain requires tll. A phenotypic and genetic study of other pattern mutants places the tll gene within the hierarchy of maternal and zygotic genes required for the formation of the normal body pattern. Analysis of mutants doubly deficient in tll and maternal terminal genes is consistent with the idea that these genes act together in a common pathway to establish the domains at opposite ends of the embryo. We propose that tll establishes anterior and posterior subdomains (acron and tail regions, respectively) within the larger pattern regions affected by the maternal terminal genes

Small heat-shock proteins: important players in regulating cellular proteostasis

Small heat-shock proteins (sHsps) are a diverse family of intra-cellular molecular chaperone proteins that play a critical role in mitigating and preventing protein aggregation under stress conditions such as elevated temperature, oxidation and infection. In doing so, they assist in the maintenance of protein homeostasis (proteostasis) thereby avoiding the deleterious effects that result from loss of protein function and/or protein aggregation. The chaperone properties of sHsps are therefore employed extensively in many tissues to prevent the development of diseases associated with protein aggregation. Significant progress has been made of late in understanding the structure and chaperone mechanism of sHsps. In this review, we discuss some of these advances, with a focus on mammalian sHsp hetero-oligomerisation, the mechanism by which sHsps act as molecular chaperones to prevent both amorphous and fibrillar protein aggregation, and the role of post-translational modifications in sHsp chaperone function, particularly in the context of disease.SM was supported by a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship, HE is supported by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT110100586) and JC is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant (#1068087)

Feeding and defecation behavior of Triatoma rubida (Uhler, 1894) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) under laboratory conditions, and its potential role as a vector of chagas disease in Arizona, USA

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to humans by blood-sucking triatomine insects. This disease is endemic throughout Mexico and Central and South America, but only a few autochthonous cases have been reported in the United States, despite the fact that infected insects readily invade houses and feed on humans. Competent vectors defecate during or shortly after feeding so that infective feces contact the host. We thus studied the feeding and defecation behaviors of the prevalent species in southern Arizona, Triatoma rubida. We found that whereas defecation during feeding was frequent in females (93%), it was very rare in immature stages (3%), and absent in males. Furthermore, more than half of the immature insects that exhibited multiple feeding bouts (62%) defecated during interruptions of feeding, i.e., while likely on or near the host. These results indicate that T. rubida potentially could transmit T. cruzi to humans.Fil: Reisenman, Carolina Esther. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Gregory, Teresa. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Guerenstein, Pablo Gustavo. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Hildebrand, John. University of Arizona; Estados Unido

Shifting Patterns in Marks and Registration: France, the United States and United Kingdom, 1870-1970

This paper looks at trademarks and brands, beyond the conventional interests of marketing and law, as a way to explaining the evolution of international business and economies in general. It shows that the perspective defended by many scholars such as Chandler (1990), Wilkins (1991, 1994) and Koehn’ (2001), about the Anglo-Saxon countries, and in particular the United States, leading the transition to modern trade-marks is narrow in its focus. Instead of the United States standing out as historically on the leading edge of innovation in the law and practice of trade marking, it appears from several directions to have been on the trailing edge. France and Britain have a more enduring interest in trademarking. The paper also looks at one particular subset of trade mark registration data – non durable consumer goods. These, and in particular food, are the dominant sectors in the three countries in terms of trademarking, reflecting the character of the sectors where imagery associated with the products is so central in competition. The paper relies on original data from three countries, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, in particular trade mark registrations, and the analysis spans for a period of one hundred years period 1870-1970.trade marks, brands, international business history, intellectual property rights, trademark law

Refocusing Responsibility for Dual Eligibles: Why Medicare Should Take the Lead

Examines the federal share of costs for those eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, potential savings from better management of Medicare-funded care, and risks of greater state responsibility for spending. Calls for federally led efforts to cut costs

Analysis of onion management practices as they relate to levels of Aspergillus niger (black mold) and development of IPM scouting protocols for black mold

ReportThe summer of 1999 was very dry. For most of the Orange county onion-growing region, rainfall was well below average or practically non-existent. The entire onion crop went down early. This situation did not allow for growers to roll their onions. We were able to compare undercutting, lifting and windrowing and found surprising results. Results showed increased black mold incidence when onions were undercut, lifted or windrowed. In 2000, we repeated the investigation to see if we would get similar results. Prof. James Lorbeer tested Aspergillus niger levels in the soil from the fields involved in the investigation. Soil samples taken this year correlate the highest inoculum levels with fields that have had the least rotation out of onions. The field with the highest soil inoculum rating was also the only field that showed onions with a detectable % of BM before and after storage. The 2000 season was cool and wet; overall incidence of black mold in onion bulbs was low probably due to weather conditions. Because of this it is difficult to draw conclusions based on the data collected this year. Data collected over the past three years on % black mold by variety can help researchers narrow down control options and perhaps guide growers to less susceptible varieties. In the past two years, four scouts have been trained to identify Aspergillus niger in the field. Historically, we have not been able to detect black mold in the field until bulbs are very close to maturity. It therefore stands to reason that scouting for black mold just prior to harvest is most practical. This information will help growers make better harvest and storage management decisions

Multiple lacerations of the heart: When grief accumulates

The idea of multiple lacerations of the heart is both personally and professionally a topic of great interest to us. Experience has taught us that far too many counselors fail to account for the aggravated condition of the heart as a result of multiple losses. The lure of the immediate loss or trauma from childhood can hinder one’s ability to consider the amassed emotional cholesterol. As system thinkers advocate, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Subsequently, counselors need to be aware of how multiple losses accumulate and how such build-up manifests itself in a client’s life. In this article, we hope to acquaint readers with a cursory understanding of the mechanisms of emotional cholesterol and treatment of this malady which we will refer to as therapeutic angioplasty