Reminiscence of John Muir by Brown, Alfred Bradley

Mr WM [William] Frederic bade Boston, Mass. My Dear Sir, At your request [I] will send you as many of the letters of the late John Muir as I shall be able to find. One I received from him while I was in the [army] during the Civil War. I will also write a few personal reminiscences of our boyhood days and later. About the year 1856 the Muir family removed from a farm in one part of the township of Buffalo, Marquette Co. Wis. To another farm in the same township owned by Mr. Muir in our locality. This brought them within our school district. The following winter the Muir children including John and his two brothers David and Daniel. And I think two of his sisters Mary and Anna attended school at a log school house built by the early settlers of that time, the counterpart of the little “Red School house” in the Eastern States. The teacher who taught the school that winter was a Mr. George Branch from the state of N.Y. It was at this school that I first became acquainted with John Muir and ever after were life long friends. Upon invitation I visited him at this time at his home, where he showed me many inventions as a boy. Among them was a clock, a [model] for an automatic saw mill, and many other curious things. He had nearly completed a very large clock to be placed upon the farm, and in a very enthusiastic manner assured me that “they could tell the time of day from that clock any where on the farm.” The plan included that a hole be cut in the roof of the barn and the pendulum to swing inside. To this his father sternly objected and refused to allow him to put up the clock, greatly to the disappointment of the boy. He made another cock however that afterwards became famous. After his twenty first birth day he left home to attend the University at Madison Wis. taking his clock with him, carrying it in a grain sack, exciting the curiosity of many people that he met on the way. He also informed me that during the early part of his attendance at the University he desired to place his clock in one of the rooms of the building, and asked the President of the College for permission, and also where he should place it. After an examination of the cock the President told him “he could put it in any place that he desired, a boy that could construct a clock like that had the privilege of placing it in any room in the building that he saw fit.” In financing his way through college he was obliged to earn the money to do it, his father having refused to help him, and teaching school was one of the means of doin it. He engaged to teach school one winter south of the city of Madison. His boarding place was a long walk from the school house and the snow was deep. One [writer] says that “he built a machine which lighted the fire for him every evening.”Mr. Muir told the writer of these lines that he set the clock at night to start the fire at a given hour in the morning by uniting acids, forming a combustion, thus starting the fire. Before leaving the school house at night he made careful preparation for lighting the fire in the morning. He described the first morning that the clock started the fire as follows: “when the time arrived for the fire to be started the whole family where he boarded were out in the door yard watching the school house, soon a little smoke was seen coming out of the chimney, increasing in volume until there was a column of smoke rising gracefully in the frosty air and settled back in the adjacent forest.” in the summer of 1867 just before John Muir started on his botanical trip to the Gulf he made his parents and relations a visit also visiting among the old neighbors, when we were favored by a visit from him and his brother David at my home, where after a few hours visit he bade us adieu. O little realized at the time that it would be forty-one years before we would [ ] again. In the spring of 1908 I visited him at his home near Martinez, Calif, where he met me at the train and was received with a cordial greeting. He was at this time living alone by himself, his youngest daughter who had been ill was sent to a sanitarium in the south eastern part of the state, a few days previous to my arrival. Taking with her a pet dog and pony for companions. I spent nearly a week with him in a delightful visit was entertained and deeply interested in accounts of his travels, particularly in Alaska, the discovery of the glacier that bears his name, also his travels in Siberia and many other countries. The room or study containing his desk, which he called his “den” was practically a museum containing many wonderful collections of souvenirs and curios from nearly every country that he visited, particularly from the Alaskan Indians. Besides specimens of a large variety of mineral oars. Many times during my stay he would recall our school days at the “old log academy” as he termed it although over half a century had passed since our school days, he still remembered distinctly every student that attended the school. In those days it was a custom to “speak pieces” and read “compositions” every Saturday afternoon, and I was amazed to hear my old friend not only give the name of each student, but would tell what particular piece he recited and would repeat part of the piece himself, imitating the speaker in voice and gestures. He recalled the names of all the larger students and repeated a part of the piece that each one recited. I was most amused to hear him mimick a little girl who tried to read her composition and nearly broke down. She took her place upon the floor and commenced to read in a low tone of voice. The teacher requested her to read “a little louder.” She commenced again when the teacher says “a little louder Mary” and she commenced her composition again, but not in a much louder voice. The teacher interrupting her the third time to read louder, when she began to cry and read at the same time until she finished reading. My friend not only repeated part of her composition but mimicked the little girl crying and reading at the same time and in the same tone of voice. On the second or third day after my arrival at his home he informed me that he had been invited by the “Sierra Club” (I think he said) to come to San Francisco the following day as one of their guests, and he invited me to accompany him on the trip. They were to take some part in the reception of Admiral Robert [Evans] and officers of Uncle Sam’s fleet of battle ships, which were to visit San Francisco after its noted journey around the world. Taking the train the next morning we arrived at Berkeley and found the boat landing was crowded with people waiting to be ferried across the bay to San Francisco. Other train loads of people were arriving adding vast numbers to the large crowd that were already waiting. The boats were unable to ferry the people across the bay as fast as they arrived. When a boat landed for passengers there was a terrific crush and jamb to get aboard. Fearing we might be separated on going aboard we each took the other by the collar of his coat with one hand and were crowded onto the boat in that manner, but were not separated, for we were as inseparable as the celebrated Siamese twins. The fleet of battle ships passing the “Golden Gate” accompanied by the booming of cannon from the forts and the response from the battle ships was a wonderful inspiring spectacle, a sight never to be forgotten. Promptly at 4 o’clock we started upon our return to Mr. Muir’s home. Two more days soon passed and I took my departure, bidding my old friend what proved to be a last farewell. In conclusion I would say that to day Wisconsin feels proud of her worthy son. Having recently placed at the University in Madison to his memory, a statue which was unveiled with elaborate ceremonies in the early part of last summer, a fitting tribute to one of her illustrious sins. Sincerely yours, Alfred Bradley Brown Alexandria, So [South] Dakota April 9, 191

Letter from A[lfred] B[radley] Brown to John Muir, 1908 Apr 19 .

Pacific Grove, CalifApril 19. 1908,John Muir,Martinez Cal.Dear Friend,I am here visiting David, and expect to get up your way before long. I intend to stop at San Jose, and Modesto, each a few days, on my way, and perhaps at San Francisco also. Let me know where to find you, and if you intend to be absent from home for any length of time within the next two weeks.Hoping to see you soon I remain as everYour friendA. B. Brow

Letter from Alfred Bradley Brown to John Muir, ca. 1858

1858 618 Well John I thought it was about time I was answering your letter. I have been so busy that I have not had much time to write. I thought you would get out of patience wating. So I thought I would begin to press [onward?] I guess I wont write poetry this time you see I ant so used to writing poetry as you be I liked your letter first rate I should like very much if I could write as goode one myself I should like first rate to meet over to the Old school house and speak prices and sing our old press onward song as we used to last winter I wonder where our teacher has gone and if he now and then thinks how his scholars are J Muir Es.getting along and of the may times we used to have last winter and I wish we might meet him again in the Old school house and hear him call us to order again and hear some of his wonderful speeches. ask Dave how he liked that awful C[illegible] I dont know but I have wrote enough I guess it is time to halt I am shure I suppose this is not as good a letter as you expected but I will try and do better next time answer this as soon as you can and excuse all mistakes. From your friend A B. Brown 00236

Letter from Alfred Bradley Brown to John Muir, 1862 Nov 26

Camp Dennison, Ohio Nov 2[8?]st, 1862My Dear Friend I received you kind and welcome letter a few days ago, and was glad to hear from you. I am here at Camp D. yet but hope I shall not stay here long. My health is pretty good, though not as good as of yours. I see you are inclined to fear that I shall be tempted to mingle with bad company and the vices of camp-dear friend; I think I am equal to the task before me, and my highest sin will be as a duty to myself and friends, to resist this enemy to the last. I share the hope with you, that the time is not far distant, when I shall again meet my friends at home. I heard a fine Preacher preach last sunday, (there is a [Tenn Regt.?] camped here) his sermon was very god. I guess John the folks up there would think it quite a treat to hear a Tennesseean preach, would\u27nt they? We are having a young snow storm here, however I dont think it will last long. I believe there is very little snow in these diggings, it has been beautiful weather since I have been here. I received a letter from Dave a short time ago, and was surprised to hear that he was a clerk or in the counterjumping business as he calls it. I have just received a paperfrom home giving a list of the drafted men in Marquette Co. Chancey Strong is one drafted in B. [illegible] and John R. Duncan Robert Graham and several others I know. You said you would like to make me a visit, I would like first rate to have you, so come along & make me a call. Well John I must close this short letter. Good bye. I am truly your friend Alfred B. Brown608[P.S.?] Excuse this short letter. I trust I shall have something of more interest to tell you next time I write. Please write me soon, & as often as you are a mind to. A.B.B. [illegible] as before Camp D. Co. C. 23rd Wis [vol?] (Ohio Ward 2

Letter from Alfred Bradley Brown to John Muir, 1859 Mar 18

[ ], March 18, 1859.Dear friend John:I have delayed ans[wering] your letter so long that I am almost ashamed to write, but I suppose it is better to write now than never. But I hope you will excuse me for being so negligent, I can hardly tell why I have not written, I have thought a great many times I would write, but some way or other I kept putting it off until now. You wrote that you were going to speculate a little on my backwardness. I think myself that I have been pretty backward about ans[wering] your letter, but you see my bump of letter writing is not very large, When I come tocompare my letters with yours I hardly think they will pass for an answer. However you will have to accept this for one. We are all pretty well. I have felt rather dull for a day or two since school has been out. 00237we have been splitting rails. I have not seen you down this way in quite a while I suppose you are busy Constructing Clocks saw mills etc I hope you will have good success in that business. Our singing school was out last Tuesday evening had a very good sing but I suppose it was just as well seeing that the rads are so bad and the evenings are getting rather short. I was much surprised on coming home to see Mr Smith & M Maitland have one or two rounds fighting seeing it was not the kind of fun that interested me I came away from them and left them and their companions to fight it out. its getting rather late John I guess I will quit writing. from your friend A B BrownP S I don\u27t know whether you can read this or not my Pen is very poor and I am in a hurry. but I hope you will except this for an A[illegible] Alfred B. Brow

Comparison of molecular quantification of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes by Pfs25 qRT-PCR and QT-NASBA in relation to mosquito infectivity.

BACKGROUND: Quantifying gametocyte densities in natural malaria infections is important to estimate malaria transmission potential. Two molecular methods (Pfs25 mRNA quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) and Pfs25 mRNA quantitative nucleic acid sequence based amplification (QT-NASBA)) are commonly used to determine gametocyte densities in clinical and epidemiological studies and allow gametocyte detection at densities below the microscopic threshold for detection. Here, reproducibility of these measurements and the association between estimated gametocyte densities and mosquito infection rates were compared. METHODS: To quantify intra- and inter-assay variation of QT-NASBA and qRT-PCR, a series of experiments was performed using culture-derived mature Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes from three different parasite isolates (NF54, NF135, NF166). Pfs25 mRNA levels were also determined in samples from clinical trials in Mali and Burkina Faso using both methods. Agreement between the two methods and association with mosquito infection rates in membrane feeding assays were assessed. RESULTS: Intra- and inter-assay variability was larger in QT-NASBA compared to qRT-PCR, particularly at low gametocyte densities (100 gametocyte per ?L). Samples collected in one of the two transmission studies had extremely low gametocyte densities by both molecular methods, which is suggestive of RNA degradation due to an unknown number of freeze-thaw cycles and illustrates the reliance of molecular gametocyte diagnostics on a reliable cold-chain. CONCLUSIONS: The experiments indicate that both qRT-PCR and QT-NASBA are of value for quantifying mature gametocytes in samples collected in field studies. For both assays, estimated gametocyte densities correlated well with mosquito infection rates. QT-NASBA is less reproducible than qRT-PCR, particularly for low gametocyte densities

Examining the generalizability of research findings from archival data

This initiative examined systematically the extent to which a large set of archival research findings generalizes across contexts. We repeated the key analyses for 29 original strategic management effects in the same context (direct reproduction) as well as in 52 novel time periods and geographies; 45% of the reproductions returned results matching the original reports together with 55% of tests in different spans of years and 40% of tests in novel geographies. Some original findings were associated with multiple new tests. Reproducibility was the best predictor of generalizability—for the findings that proved directly reproducible, 84% emerged in other available time periods and 57% emerged in other geographies. Overall, only limited empirical evidence emerged for context sensitivity. In a forecasting survey, independent scientists were able to anticipate which effects would find support in tests in new samples

The development and validation of a scoring tool to predict the operative duration of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background: The ability to accurately predict operative duration has the potential to optimise theatre efficiency and utilisation, thus reducing costs and increasing staff and patient satisfaction. With laparoscopic cholecystectomy being one of the most commonly performed procedures worldwide, a tool to predict operative duration could be extremely beneficial to healthcare organisations. Methods: Data collected from the CholeS study on patients undergoing cholecystectomy in UK and Irish hospitals between 04/2014 and 05/2014 were used to study operative duration. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was produced in order to identify significant independent predictors of long (> 90 min) operations. The resulting model was converted to a risk score, which was subsequently validated on second cohort of patients using ROC curves. Results: After exclusions, data were available for 7227 patients in the derivation (CholeS) cohort. The median operative duration was 60 min (interquartile range 45–85), with 17.7% of operations lasting longer than 90 min. Ten factors were found to be significant independent predictors of operative durations > 90 min, including ASA, age, previous surgical admissions, BMI, gallbladder wall thickness and CBD diameter. A risk score was then produced from these factors, and applied to a cohort of 2405 patients from a tertiary centre for external validation. This returned an area under the ROC curve of 0.708 (SE = 0.013, p  90 min increasing more than eightfold from 5.1 to 41.8% in the extremes of the score. Conclusion: The scoring tool produced in this study was found to be significantly predictive of long operative durations on validation in an external cohort. As such, the tool may have the potential to enable organisations to better organise theatre lists and deliver greater efficiencies in care

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead