Globular cluster content and evolutionary history of NGC147

We present the results of spectroscopic observations of eight globular cluster candidates in NGC147, a satellite dwarf elliptical galaxy of M31. Our goal is to make a complete inventory of the globular cluster system of this galaxy, determine the properties of their stellar populations, and compare these properties with those of systems of globular clusters in other dwarf galaxies. The candidates were identified on Canada-France-Hawaii telescope photographic plates. Medium resolution spectra were obtained with the SCORPIO spectrograph at the prime focus of the 6m telescope of the Russian Academy of Sciences. We were able to confirm the nature of all eight candidates, three of which (GC5, GC7, and GC10) are indeed globular clusters, and to estimate evolutionary parameters for the two brightest ones and for Hodge II. The bright clusters GC5 and GC7 appear to have metallicities ([Z/H]~ -1.5- -1.8) that are lower than the oldest stars in the galaxy. The fainter GC Hodge II has a metallicity [Z/H]=-1.1 dex, similar to that of the oldest stars in the galaxy. The clusters GC5 and GC7 have low alpha-element abundance ratios. The mean age of the globular clusters in NGC147 is 9+-1 Gyr. The frequency, S_n =6.4, and mass fraction, T=14 of globular clusters in NGC147 appear to be higher than those for NGC185 and 205. (Abridged)Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 5 tables, 3 appendixes; acknowledgements adde

Constitutional Disharmony and Selected Components of Motor Ability

Structural dysplasia differences were investigated in reference to selected tests of motor ability. A sample of 222 male college students and athletes was used in the study. Anthropometric, lean body weight, and excess fat measurements were taken. Group and subgroup designations were determined by the upper and lower body component makeup of structural dysplasia possessed by each of the subjects. The results generally demon­strated few significant differences between the groups and subgroups in reference to the selected tests of motor ability

Height-Weight Indices and Blood Lipid Levels in Normal Controls and Offspring of Conjugal Diabetics

The purpose of this study was to investigate body size and body mass relative to total fasting cholesterol, triglyceride, high density and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and ratios in normal controls and offspring of conjugal Type II diabetics. Height, weight, percent ideal weight, and height/weight, ponderal, body mass and F-index ratios were used in the assessment of relative body size and body mass. Correlative examination of these height-weight measures and ratios relative to blood lipid analysis demonstrated that significant relationship patterns were more common for the offspring than for the control group.An analysis of variance study utilizing ponderal and body mass indices as representative and respective measures of body size and body mass in regard to the blood lipids, corroborated the correlation results. In reference to the ponderal and body mass indices of the offspring group, many mean significant differences were found in favor of the lean and underweight in comparison to the average and desirable weight, and stout and overweight subgroups relative to all of the blood lipid levels and ratios. In contrast, few control gtoup mean significant differences between the subgroups were found. Age may also have contributed to the results obtained, since the stout and overweight subgroups were generally older than their leaner and lighter subgroup counterparts. The overall results of this study indicate that increased body size and body mass are related to increased blood lipid levels and ratios, especially in the offspring group with a high genetic risk of developing diabetes and atherosclerosis

Identification of Tspan9 as a novel platelet tetraspanin and the collagen receptor GPVI as a component of tetraspanin microdomains

Platelets are essential for wound healing and inflammatory processes, but can also play a deleterious role by causing heart attack and stroke. Normal platelet activation is dependent on tetraspanins, a superfamily of glycoproteins that function as 'organisers' of cell membranes by recruiting other receptors and signalling proteins into tetraspanin-enriched microdomains. However, our understanding of how tetraspanin microdomains regulate platelets is hindered by the fact that only four of the 33 mammalian tetraspanins have been identified in platelets. This is because of a lack of antibodies to most tetraspanins and difficulties in measuring mRNA, due to low levels in this anucleate cell. To identify potentially platelet-expressed tetraspanins, mRNA was measured in their nucleated progenitor cell, the megakaryocyte, using serial analysis of gene expression and DNA microarrays. Amongst 19 tetraspanins identified in megakaryocytes, Tspan9, a previously uncharacterized tetraspanin, was relatively specific to these cells. Through generating the first Tspan9 antibodies, Tspan9 expression was found to be tightly regulated in platelets. The relative levels of CD9, CD151, Tspan9 and CD63 were 100, 14, 6 and 2 respectively. Since CD9 was expressed at 49000 cell surface copies per platelet, this suggested a copy number of 2800 Tspan9 molecules. Finally, Tspan9 was shown to be a component of tetraspanin microdomains that included the collagen receptor GPVI (glycoprotein VI) and integrin α6β1, but not the von Willebrand receptor GPIbα or the integrins αIIbβ3 or α2β1. These findings suggest a role for Tspan9 in regulating platelet function in concert with other platelet tetraspanins and their associated proteins

Illustrated State-of-the-Art Capsules of the ISTH 2019 Congress in Melbourne, Australia

The 27th Congress of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) is an international conference held July 6-10, 2019, in Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria, Australia. The ISTH congress has previously been held every other year, with the Scientific and Standardization Committee (SSC) meeting held annually, until 2019 when it became one combined annual meeting of the ISTH and SSC. The conference covers clinical and basic aspects of hemostasis and thrombosis, and this year includes 5 Plenary lectures and >50 State of Art (SOA) lectures, presented by internationally recognized speakers, as well as numerous oral session and poster presentations selected from submitted abstracts, including many early career and reach the world support recipients. This SOA review article in RPTH contains concise Illustrated Review Articles or 'Capsules' consisting of short text, three references and a figure, with topics including stroke, cancer-associated thrombosis, hemophilia, coagulation, the interface between infection and inflammation, and in the experimental and discovery areas, megakaryocyte biology and platelet production, structure-function of key receptors and coagulation factors, and emerging new roles for thrombotic/hemostatic factors. Together, these articles highlight novel findings which will advance knowledge and with the potential to change clinical practice and improve outcomes. It is hoped that conference attendees and followers will enjoy utilizing the images for ongoing education and during the conference for live tweeting during sessions, to assist in the broadcasting and promotion of the science to those unable to attend, or who have chosen to attend a concurrent session. Use #IllustratedReview and #ISTH2019 on social media