A Performance Evaluation of Amended Stabilization Mortars at Wupatki National Monument, Arizona

Earthen mortars are commonly amended to display ‘improved’ performance and weathering properties than unamended soil mortars. In an effort to make more lasting repairs, the National Park Service (NPS) has used amended earthen mortars on their historic structures since the 19th century. These interventions have displayed various levels of compatibility with original masonry material. One such amendment, the acrylic emulsion Rhoplex™ E-330, has been used in setting and pointing mortars for the conservation of ruin sites at multiple National Parks since the 1970s. This paper focus on conservation repair mortars, specifically the durability and performance of amended earthen mortars at the Wupatki Pueblo. Located in north-central Arizona, near Flagstaff, Wupatki National Monument consist of multiple sites with the Wupatki Pueblo dating to ca. 1100 AD. Built upon a natural outcropping, the pueblo is constructed of coursed rubble stone, predominately of the local Moenkopi sandstone, all laid in an earthen mortar. Since 1924, the monument has been administered by the National Park Service with restoration and stabilization work continuing to today. This research examines conservation soil-based mortars at archaeological sites with Wupatki Pueblo serving as the case study. Research includes analyzing and characterizing the composition of past and current stabilization mortars used on site, assessing their overall compatibility with the masonry, and creating test formulations to provide recommendations for future use. Test formulations evaluate the effects of acrylic polymers on Wupatki’s current soil supply with only the ratio of Rhoplex™ E-330 to water altered in each formulation. Physical and mechanical tests performed on these mortar formulations provide insight into how these mortars perform in the field. Ultimately, these efforts provide the NPS with an optimal amended stabilization mortar formulation that is compatible with the Wupatki Pueblo’s original masonry system

Tuning sensitivity to IL-4 and IL-13: differential expression of IL-4Rα, IL-13Rα1, and γc regulates relative cytokine sensitivity

Interleukin (IL)-4 and -13 are related cytokines sharing functional receptors. IL-4 signals through the type I (IL-4Rα/common γ-chain [γc]) and the type II (IL-4Rα/-13Rα1) IL-4 receptors, whereas IL-13 utilizes only the type II receptor. In this study, we show that mouse bone marrow–derived macrophages and human and mouse monocytes showed a much greater sensitivity to IL-4 than to IL-13. Lack of functional γc made these cells poorly responsive to IL-4, while retaining full responsiveness to IL-13. In mouse peritoneal macrophages, IL-4 potency exceeds that of IL-13, but lack of γc had only a modest effect on IL-4 signaling. In contrast, IL-13 stimulated greater responses than IL-4 in fibroblasts. Using levels of receptor chain expression and known binding affinities, we modeled the assemblage of functional type I and II receptor complexes. The differential expression of IL-4Rα, IL-13Rα1, and γc accounted for the distinct IL-4–IL-13 sensitivities of the various cell types. These findings provide an explanation for IL-13's principal function as an “effector” cytokine and IL-4's principal role as an “immunoregulatory” cytokine

Polarization-selective optical nanostructures for optical MEMS integration

Optical nanostructures have the potential to provide useful new functionalities, using materials and fabrication methods that are compatible with standard silicon-based processes. For example, it has been shown that a nanoscale grating coated with a metal layer produces polarization-selective reflectivity [1,2], based on the combined effects of form birefringence and a resonant cavity [3]. In this work, we adapt this design approach to develop two devices optimized to operate around 1.55 μm wavelength: a polarizing beam splitter, and a polarization-selective reflector. Such devices are of particular interest as they may provide optical properties such as polarization selectivity or enhanced reflectivity using nanostructures compatible with optical micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)

Comprehensive volumetric confocal microscopy with adaptive focusing

Comprehensive microscopy of distal esophagus could greatly improve the screening and surveillance of esophageal diseases such as Barrett’s esophagus by providing histomorphologic information over the entire region at risk. Spectrally encoded confocal microscopy (SECM) is a high-speed reflectance confocal microscopy technology that can be configured to image the entire distal esophagus by helically scanning the beam using optics within a balloon-centering probe. It is challenging to image the human esophagus in vivo with balloon-based SECM, however, because patient motion and anatomic tissue surface irregularities decenter the optics, making it difficult to keep the focus at a predetermined location within the tissue as the beam is scanned. In this paper, we present a SECM probe equipped with an adaptive focusing mechanism that can compensate for tissue surface irregularity and dynamic focal variation. A tilted arrangement of the objective lens is employed in the SECM probe to provide feedback signals to an adaptive focusing mechanism. The tilted configuration also allows the probe to obtain reflectance confocal data from multiple depth levels, enabling the acquisition of three-dimensional volumetric data during a single scan of the probe. A tissue phantom with a surface area of 12.6 cm2 was imaged using the new SECM probe, and 8 large-area reflectance confocal microscopy images were acquired over the depth range of 56 μm in 20 minutes. Large-area SECM images of excised swine small intestine tissue were also acquired, enabling the visualization of villous architecture, epithelium, and lamina propria. The adaptive focusing mechanism was demonstrated to enable acquisition of in-focus images even when the probe was not centered and the tissue surface was irregular

Alpha and lambda interferon together mediate suppression of CD4 T cells induced by respiratory syncytial virus

The mechanism by which respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) suppresses T-cell proliferation to itself and other antigens is poorly understood. We used monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDC) and CD4 T cells and measured [(3)H]thymidine incorporation to determine the factors responsible for RSV-induced T-cell suppression. These two cell types were sufficient for RSV-induced suppression of T-cell proliferation in response to cytomegalovirus or Staphylococcus enterotoxin B. Suppressive activity was transferable with supernatants from RSV-infected MDDC and was not due to transfer of live virus or RSV F (fusion) protein. Supernatants from RSV-infected MDDC, but not MDDC exposed to UV-killed RSV or mock conditions, contained alpha interferon (IFN-alpha; median, 43 pg/ml) and IFN-lambda (approximately 1 to 20 ng/ml). Neutralization of IFN-alpha with monoclonal antibody (MAb) against one of its receptor chains, IFNAR2, or of IFN-lambda with MAb against either of its receptor chains, IFN-lambdaR1 (interleukin 28R [IL-28R]) or IL-10R2, had a modest effect. In contrast, blocking the two receptors together markedly reduced or completely blocked the RSV-induced suppression of CD4 T-cell proliferation. Defining the mechanism of RSV-induced suppression may guide vaccine design and provide insight into previously uncharacterized human T-cell responses and activities of interferons

IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-13 modulate responsiveness of human airway smooth muscle cells to IL-13

© 2008 Moynihan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Characterization of STAT6 Target Genes in Human B Cells and Lung Epithelial Cells

Using ChIP Seq, we identified 556 and 467 putative STAT6 target sites in the Burkitt's lymphoma cell line Ramos and in the normal lung epithelial cell line BEAS2B, respectively. We also examined the positions and expression of transcriptional start sites (TSSs) in these cells using our TSS Seq method. We observed that 44 and 132 genes in Ramos and BEAS2B, respectively, had STAT6 binding sites in proximal regions of their previously reported TSSs that were up-regulated at the transcriptional level. In addition, 406 and 109 of the STAT6 target sites in Ramos and BEAS2B, respectively, were located in proximal regions of previously uncharacterized TSSs. The target genes identified in Ramos and BEAS2B cells in this study and in Th2 cells in previous studies rarely overlapped and differed in their identity. Interestingly, ChIP Seq analyses of histone modifications and RNA polymerase II revealed that chromatin formed an active structure in regions surrounding the STAT6 binding sites; this event also frequently occurred in different cell types, although neither STAT6 binding nor TSS induction was observed. The rough landscape of STAT6-responsive sites was found to be shaped by chromatin structure, but distinct cellular responses were mainly mediated by distinct sets of transcription factors

High speed optical coherence microscopy with autofocus adjustment and a miniaturized endoscopic imaging probe

Optical coherence microscopy (OCM) is a promising technique for high resolution cellular imaging in human tissues. An OCM system for high-speed en face cellular resolution imaging was developed at 1060 nm wavelength at frame rates up to 5 Hz with resolutions of < 4 µm axial and < 2 µm transverse. The system utilized a novel polarization compensation method to combat wavelength dependent source polarization and achieve broadband electro-optic phase modulation compatible with ultrahigh axial resolution. In addition, the system incorporated an auto-focusing feature that enables precise, near real-time alignment of the confocal and coherence gates in tissue, allowing user-friendly optimization of image quality during the imaging procedure. Ex vivo cellular images of human esophagus, colon, and cervix as well as in vivo results from human skin are presented. Finally, the system design is demonstrated with a miniaturized piezoelectric fiber-scanning probe which can be adapted for laparoscopic and endoscopic imaging applications.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (R01-CA75289-13)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) R01-EY11289-25United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-07-1-0101)United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-07-1-0014)Max Planck Society for the Advancement of ScienceNational Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Fellowship) (F31 EB005978

Investigation of Electron Transfer-Based Photonic and Electro-Optic Materials and Devices

Montanaâs state program began its sixth year in 2006. The projectâs research cluster focused on physical, chemical, and biological materials that exhibit unique electron-transfer properties. Our investigators have filed several patents and have also have established five spin-off businesses (3 MSU, 2 UM) and a research center (MT Tech). In addition, this project involved faculty and students at three campuses (MSU, UM, MT Tech) and has a number of under-represented students, including 10 women and 5 Native Americans. In 2006, there was an added emphasis on exporting seminars and speakers via the Internet from UM to Chief Dull Knife Community College, as well as work with the MT Department of Commerce to better educate our faculty regarding establishing small businesses, licensing and patent issues, and SBIR program opportunities