Evaluating the character and preservation of DNA within allophane clusters in buried soils on Holocene tephras, northern New Zealand

Clay minerals possess sorptive capacities for organic and inorganic matter, including DNA (Lorenz and Wackernagel, 1994), and hence reduce the utilization and degradation of organic matter or DNA by microorganisms. Buried allophane-rich soils on tephras (volcanic-ash beds) on the North Island, dated using tephrochronology, provide a valuable paleobiological ‘laboratory’ for studying the preservation of ancient DNA (aDNA) (Haile et al., 2007). Allophane comprises Al-rich nanocrystalline spherules ~3.5-5 nm in diameter (Fig. 1) with extremely large surface areas (up to 1000 m2 g-1). Moreover, allophanic soils are strongly associated with organic matter (Parfitt, 2009), and so we hypothesize that allophane also plays an important role for DNA protection within such soils

A zebrafish model of conditional targeted podocyte ablation and regeneration

Podocytes are specialized cells that contribute critically to the normal structure and function of the glomerular filtration barrier. Their depletion plays an important role in the pathogenesis of glomerulosclerosis. Here, we report generation of a genetic model of conditional podocyte ablation and regeneration in zebrafish using a bacterial nitroreductase strategy to convert a prodrug, Metronidazole, into a cytotoxic metabolite. A transgenic zebrafish line was generated that expresses a green fluorescence protein (GFP) and the nitroreductase fusion protein under the control of the podocin promoter Tg(podocin:nitroreductase-GFP). Treatment of these transgenic zebrafish with Metronidazole results in podocyte apoptosis, a loss of nephrin and podocin expression, foot process effacement, and a leaky glomerular filtration barrier. Following Metronidazole washout, proliferating cells were detected in the glomeruli of recovering transgenic fish with a restoration of nitroreductase-GFP fluorescence, nephrin and podocin expression, a reestablishment of normal foot process architecture and glomerular barrier function. Thus, our studies show that zebrafish podocytes are capable of regenerating following depletion and establish the Tg(podocin:NTR-GFP) fish as a new model to study podocyte injury and repair

Interplay between Fe and Nd magnetism in NdFeAsO single crystals

The structural and magnetic phase transitions have been studied on NdFeAsO single crystals by neutron and x-ray diffraction complemented by resistivity and specific heat measurements. Two low-temperature phase transitions have been observed in addition to the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic transition at T_S = 142 K and the onset of antiferromagnetic (AFM) Fe order below T_N = 137 K. The Fe moments order AFM in the well-known stripe-like structure in the (ab) plane, but change from AFM to ferromagnetic (FM) arrangement along the c direction below T* = 15 K accompanied by the onset of Nd AFM order below T_Nd = 6 K with this same AFM configuration. The iron magnetic order-order transition in NdFeAsO accentuates the Nd-Fe interaction and the delicate balance of c-axis exchange couplings that results in AFM in LaFeAsO and FM in CeFeAsO and PrFeAsO.Comment: revised; 4 pages, 3 figures; accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF NOVEL PHYSIOLOGICAL MRI METHODS TO IMAGE CHANGES IN OXYGENATION

This dissertation details the application of novel MRI methods (VASO and APT MRI) to acute stroke as well as the work to develop a novel MRI technique to image oxygenation in the brain

Stability of Quantum Critical Points in the Presence of Competing Orders

We investigate the stability of Quantum Critical Points (QCPs) in the presence of two competing phases. These phases near QCPs are assumed to be either classical or quantum and assumed to repulsively interact via square-square interactions. We find that for any dynamical exponents and for any dimensionality strong enough interaction renders QCPs unstable, and drives transitions to become first order. We propose that this instability and the onset of first-order transitions lead to spatially inhomogeneous states in practical materials near putative QCPs. Our analysis also leads us to suggest that there is a breakdown of Conformal Field Theory (CFT) scaling in the Anti de Sitter models, and in fact these models contain first-order transitions in the strong coupling limit.Comment: 28 pages, 14 figure

Characterization of Human CD39+ Th17 Cells with Suppressor Activity and Modulation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Induced regulatory T-cells (iT-reg) and T helper type 17 (Th17) in the mouse share common CD4 progenitor cells and exhibit overlapping phenotypic and functional features. Here, we show that human Th17 cells endowed with suppressor activity (supTh17) can be derived following exposure of iT-reg populations to Th17 polarizing conditions. In contrast to “pathogenic” Th17, supTh17 display immune suppressive function and express high levels of CD39, an ectonucleotidase that catalyzes the conversion of pro-inflammatory extracellular nucleotides ultimately generating nucleosides. Accordingly, supTh17 exhibit nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase activity, as demonstrated by the efficient generation of extracellular AMP, adenosine and other purine derivatives. In addition supTh17 cells are resistant to the effects of adenosine as result of the low expression of the A2A receptor and accelerated adenosine catalysis by adenosine deaminase (ADA). These supTh17 can be detected in the blood and in the lamina propria of healthy subjects. However, these supTh17 cells are diminished in patients with Crohn’s disease. In summary, we describe a human Th17 subpopulation with suppressor activity, which expresses high levels of CD39 and consequently produces extracellular adenosine. As these uniquely suppressive CD39+ Th17 cells are decreased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, our findings might have implications for the development of novel anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches in these and potentially other immune disorders