Sequence elements controlling expression of Barley stripe mosaic virus subgenomic RNAs in vivo.

Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) contains three positive-sense, single-stranded genomic RNAs, designated alpha, beta, and gamma, that encode seven major proteins and one minor translational readthrough protein. Three proteins (alphaa, betaa, and gammaa) are translated directly from the genomic RNAs and the remaining proteins encoded on RNAbeta and RNAgamma are expressed via three subgenomic messenger RNAs (sgRNAs). sgRNAbeta1 directs synthesis of the triple gene block 1 (TGB1) protein. The TGB2 protein, the TGB2' minor translational readthrough protein, and the TGB3 protein are expressed from sgRNAbeta2, which is present in considerably lower abundance than sgRNAbeta1. A third sgRNA, sgRNAgamma, is required for expression of the gammab protein. We have used deletion analyses and site-specific mutations to define the boundaries of promoter regions that are critical for expression of the BSMV sgRNAs in infected protoplasts. The results reveal that the sgRNAbeta1 promoter encompasses positions -29 to -2 relative to its transcription start site and is adjacent to a cis-acting element required for RNAbeta replication that maps from -107 to -74 relative to the sgRNAbeta1 start site. The core sgRNAbeta2 promoter includes residues -32 to -17 relative to the sgRNAbeta2 transcriptional start site, although maximal activity requires an upstream hexanucleotide sequence residing from positions -64 to -59. The sgRNAgamma promoter maps from -21 to +2 relative to its transcription start site and therefore partially overlaps the gammaa gene. The sgRNAbeta1, beta2, and gamma promoters also differ substantially in sequence, but have similarities to the putative homologous promoters of other Hordeiviruses. These differences are postulated to affect competition for the viral polymerase, coordination of the temporal expression and abundance of the TGB proteins, and constitutive expression of the gammab protein

Solomon and Sarah Comstock: prairie pioneers and the building of a community

Minnesota and higher education began to see a boom in the mid-1800s. When Solomon Comstock arrived in Moorhead in 1871, he saw nothing but muddy streets, dugouts, and tents. Throughout the late 1800s, Solomon and his wife, Sarah, focused on helping to develop Moorhead from a deplorable tent town with gambling house and saloons into a vibrant community through education. The creation of Minnesota’s fourth normal school in Moorhead was one of the biggest educational opportunities for Moorhead then and now. Today, on the six-acre site donated by Solomon and Sarah Comstock, stands one of Minnesota’s universities, Minnesota State University, Moorhead. Research at the Minnesota State University, Moorhead Archives shows several contributions the Comstock’s made to Moorhead through education and literacy. This thesis not only focuses on the educational contributions of Solomon and Sarah Comstock but further expands into a PowerPoint presentation and lecture. This lecture, which will be presented at the Comstock House museum in Moorhead, Minnesota will summarize this thesis through the main educational contributions outlined in this thesis. The PowerPoint presentation will be outlined by providing Solomon Comstock’s contributions, such as his support and donation of land for the Bishop Whipple School and Moorhead Teacher’s College. The PowerPoint will then focus on Sarah Comstock’s contributions to Moorhead, such as the creation of the Moorhead Women’s Club and the dedication to developing the Moorhead Public Library. Without these educational and community developments, Moorhead, Minnesota would not hold the current educational opportunities such as Minnesota State University, Moorhead, Concordia College, or the Lake Agassiz Regional Library System. (Author abstract)Johnson, J.A. (2017). Solomon and Sarah Comstock: prairie pioneers and the building of a community. Retrieved from http://academicarchive.snhu.eduMaster ArtsHistoryCollege of Online and Continuing Educatio

Nitrogen abundances in giant stars of the globular cluster NGC 6752

We present N abundances for 21 bright giants in the globular cluster NGC 6752 based on high-resolution UVES spectra of the 3360A NH lines. We confirm that the Stromgren c1 index traces the N abundance and find that the star-to-star N abundance variation is 1.95 dex, at the sample's luminosity. We find statistically significant correlations, but small amplitude variations, between the abundances of N and alpha-, Fe-peak, and s-process elements. Analyses using model atmospheres with appropriate N, O, Na, and Al abundances would strengthen, rather than mute, these correlations. If the small variations of heavy elements are real, then the synthesis of the N anomalies must take place in stars which also synthesize alpha-, Fe-peak, and s-process elements. These correlations offer support for contributions from both AGB and massive stars to the globular cluster abundance anomalies.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Literature-based language arts extended to science

A literature-based language arts program provides meaningful experiences for children within the functions of language. Such programs can be extended across the curriculum to utilize the functions in other areas. These connections across the curriculum can be enhanced through the different genres of literature. In this article, a literature base was integrated into the science area of the curriculum. A science unit on pumpkins was developed for first grade children with quality literature and related expressive activities that extended the children\u27s literacy and their understanding of plants. Teacher-directed activities were presented along with learning centers

The Experimental Use Exception in Japan: A Model for U.S. Patent Law?

The patent laws of the United States and Japan contain provisions that permit the experimental use of patented inventions. In the United States, the common law experimental use exception has been utilized to permit the use of a patented invention to satisfy intellectual curiosity, as long as the use is not commercial. In 1984, the Hatch-Waxman Act provided a statutory experimental use exception in 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(1). It amended the Patent Act to allow a generic drug company to experiment with a pioneer drug during the pioneer drug\u27s patent term to generate data for obtaining regulatory approval. In contrast, § 69(1) of the Japanese Patent Law provides for a general statutory experimental use exception that allows use of any patented invention for experiment or research. The general experimental use exception in Japan is much broader than the two experimental use provisions in the United States and permits more beneficial uses. The experimental use approaches taken in the United States have been problematic. To remedy these problems, the United States Congress has proposed several bills, each with differing breadth, which would protect additional types of experimental use or modify the Hatch-Waxman Act. No such reform has passed to date. This Comment argues that the United States may benefit from adopting a general statutory experimental use exception like Japan\u27s. This Comment further argues that broadening the experimental use exception in the United States would not decrease the incentives created by the patent system. Furthermore, since the Japanese approach is more consistent with the patent systems of other countries, it facilitates patent harmonization better than the narrow exception provided in the United States

A Search for Binary Stars at Low Metallicity

We present initial results measuring the companion fraction of metal-poor stars ([Fe/H]$<-$2.0). We are employing the Lick Observatory planet-finding system to make high-precision Doppler observations of these objects. The binary fraction of metal-poor stars provides important constraints on star formation in the early Galaxy (Carney et al. 2003). Although it has been shown that a majority of solar metallicity stars are in binaries, it is not clear if this is the case for metal-poor stars. Is there a metallicity floor below which binary systems do not form or become rare? To test this we are determining binary fractions at metallicities below [Fe/H]$=-2.0$. Our measurments are not as precise as the planet finders', but we are still finding errors of only 50 to 300 m/s, depending on the signal-to-noise of a spectrum and stellar atmosphere of the star. At this precision we can be much more complete than previous studies in our search for stellar companions.Comment: To appear in conference proceedings,"First Stars III", eds. B. O'Shea, A. Heger & T. Abel. 3 pages, 5 figure