A Quantitative Investigation of Selected Reactions in the Fibrinolytic Cascade

Previous work has shown that thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) was unable to prolong lysis of purified clots in the presence of Lys-plasminogen (Lys-Pg), indicating a possible mechanism for fibrinolysis to circumvent prolongation mediated by activated TAFI (TAFIa). Therefore, the effects of TAFIa on Lys-Pg activation and Lys-plasmin (Lys-Pn) inhibition by antiplasmin (AP) were quantitatively investigated using a fluorescently labeled recombinant Pg mutant which does not produce active Pn. High molecular weight fibrin degradation products (HMW-FDPs), a soluble fibrin surrogate that models Pn modified fibrin, treated with TAFIa decreased the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of 5IAF-Glu-Pg cleavage by 417-fold and of 5IAF-Lys-Pg cleavage by 55-fold. A previously devised intact clot system was used to measure the apparent second order rate constant (k2) for Pn inhibition by AP over time. While TAFIa was able to abolish the protection associated with Pn modified fibrin in clots formed with Glu-Pg, it was not able to abolish the protection in clots formed with Lys-Pg. However, TAFIa was still able to prolong the lysis of clots formed with Lys-Pg. TAFIa prolongs clot lysis by removing the positive feedback loop for Pn generation. The effect of TAFIa modification of the HMW-FDPs on the rate of tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) inhibition by plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) was investigated using a previously devised end point assay. HMW-FDPs decreased the k2 for tPA inhibition rate by 3-fold. Thus, HMW-FDPs protect tPA from PAI-1. TAFIa treatment of the HMW-FDPs resulted in no change in protection. Vitronectin also did not appreciably affect tPA inhibition by PAI-1. Pg, in conjunction with HMW-FDPs, decreased the k2 for tPA inhibition by 30-fold. Hence, Pg, when bound to HMW-FDPs, protects tPA by an additional 10-fold. TAFIa treatment of the HMW-FDPs completely removed this additional protection provided by Pg. In conclusion, an additional mechanism was identified whereby TAFIa can prolong clot lysis by increasing the rate of tPA inhibition by PAI-1 by eliminating the protective effects of Pn-modified fibrin and Pg. Because TAFIa can suppress Lys-Pg activation but cannot attenuate Lys-Pn inhibition by AP, the Glu- to Lys-Pg/Pn conversion is able to act as a fibrinolytic switch to ultimately lyse the clot.

Identifying and implementing adaptive strategy in the U.S. military

Changes in the environment, including increased environmental complexity, require military supply units to employ a more adaptive strategy in order to enhance military agility. We extend the Lumpkin and Dess (1996) model and develop propositions that explore the interrelationships between/amongst entrepreneurial orientation (EO); opportunity recognition, evaluation and exploitation; environmental and organizational factors; and organizational performance. We propose that the innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking dimensions of EO are of primary importance in identifying adaptive solutions and that these relationships are moderated by environmental factors. The autonomy and competitive aggressiveness dimensions of EO are important in implementing solutions as adaptive strategies, especially in a military context, and these relationships are moderated by organizational factors. This chapter extends existing theory developed primarily for the civilian sector to the military. Military organizations are more rigid hierarchical structures, and have different measures of performance. At an applied level, this research provides insights for military commanders that can potentially enhance agility and adaptability.

The role of timber plantations in U.K. investment portfolios

Although timber plantations and forests are classified as forms of agricultural production, the ownership of this land classification is not limited to rural producers. Timber plantations and forests are now regarded as a long-term investment with both institutional and absentee owners. While the NCREIF property indices have been the benchmarks for the measurement of the performance of the commercial property market in the UK, for many years the IPD timberland index has recently emerged as the U.K. forest and timberland performance indicator. The IPD Forest index incorporates 126 properties over five regions in the U.K. This paper will utilise the IPD Forestry Index to examine the performance of U.K. timber plantations and forests over the period 1981-2004. In particular, issues to be critically assessed include plantation and forest performance analysis, comparative investment analysis, and the role of plantations and forests in investment portfolios, the risk reduction and portfolio benefits of plantations and forests in mixed-asset portfolios and the strategic investment significance of U.K. timberlands.

Dislodgement of commercial property public debt markets : the case of U.S. and Australia

The paper investigates if there are any discernible trends in the U.S. and Australian commercial property public debt markets with the onset of the global financial crisis (GFC). Commercial mortgage-backed securities and unsecured bonds issued by real estate investment trusts for the period 2000 to Q3:2009 are reviewed. It is shown that events in the equity markets have an impact on the pricing of these two instruments. Furthermore, the impact of subdued activity in these financing instruments on the commercial property market is discussed.

Australian student reactions to U.S. tourism advertising : a test of advertising as public diplomacy

A study among Australian college students gauged their reactions to a television commercial produced for the U.S. Commerce Department to bolster sagging tourism numbers among international visitors. In addition to using traditional measures applied to tourism advertisements, the student also concluded items to measure attitudes toward the U.S. government and its people Pre- and post-viewing results indicated that while the Hollywood-movie-themed commercial was not well received by the Australian students as a tourism message, it did result in more favorable attitudes toward the U.S. government, though not the U.S. people. The findings lend partial support for the potential of tourism advertising efforts to exert a "bleed-over effect" in terms of their contributions to overall attitudes toward a country, regardless of whether viewers plan to visit the country whose travel advertisements they see.

The role of U.S. timberland in real estate portfolios

Timberland is seen as a long-term investment which has recently received increased institutional investor attention in many countries and potentially provides added value in a mixed-asset portfolio. Using the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF) timberland series, this paper analyses the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of timberland in the United States over the period of 1987-2007. U.S. timberland is seen to have been a strongly performed asset class with significant portfolio diversification benefits over this period; with a significant portfolio role separate to that of real estate. However, recent years have seen reduced risk-adjusted returns, with some loss of portfolio diversification benefits of timberland with stocks and real estate. Global drivers are likely to see increased future demand for timberland investment.

Comparison of U.S., Canadian, and Australian participants' performance on the Algase Wandering Scale-Version 2 (AWS-V2)

Background Wandering represents a major problem in the management of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study we examined the utility of the Algase Wandering Scale (AWS), a newly developed psychometric instrument that asks caregivers to assess the likelihood of wandering behavior. Methods The AWS was administered to the caregivers of 40 AD patients and total and subscale scores were examined in relation to measures of mental and functional status, depressive symptoms and medication usage. Results AWS scores were comparable, though slightly lower, than those normative values previously published. Higher scores were associated with more severe dementia. The Negative Outcome subscale showed a significant increase in reported falls or injuries in association with anti-depressant use. Conclusions These data provide some construct validation for the AWS as a potentially useful scale to assess wandering behaviors in AD.

Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl titanate mineral betafite (Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb)2O6(OH) –Effect of Metamictization

Raman spectra of the uranyl titanate mineral betafite were obtained and related to the mineral structure. A comparison is made with the spectra of uranyl oxyhydroxide hydrates. Observed bands are attributed to the (UO2)2+ stretching and bending vibrations, U-OH bending vibrations, H2O and (OH)- stretching, bending and libration modes. U-O bond lengths in uranyls and O-H…O bond lengths are calculated from the wavenumbers assigned to the stretching vibrations. Raman bands of betafite are comparable with those of the uranyl oxyhydroxides. The mineral betafite is metamict as is evidenced by the intensity of the UO stretching and bending modes being of lower intensity than expected and with bands that are significantly broader.

Developing spatial infrastructures for the Q.U.T. Samford Ecological Research Facility.

Staff and students of the Surveying and Spatial Sciences discipline at QUT have worked collaboratively with the Institute of Sustainable Resources in the creation and development of spatial information layers and infrastructure to support multi-disciplinary research efforts at the Samford Ecological Research Facility (SERF). The SERF property is unique in that it provides staff and students with a semi-rural controlled research base for multiple users. This paper aims to describe the development of a number of spatial information layers and network of survey monuments that assist and support research infrastructure at SERF. A brief historical background about the facility is presented along with descriptions of the surveying and mapping activities undertaken. These broad ranging activities include introducing monument infrastructure and a geodetic control network; surveying activities for aerial photography ground-control targets including precise levelling with barcode instruments; development of an ortho-rectified image spatial information layer; Real-Time-Kinematic Global Positioning Systems (RTK-GPS) surveying for constructing 100metre confluence points/monuments to support science-based disciplines to undertake environmental research transects and long-term ecological sampling; and real-world learning initiative to assist with water engineering projects and student experiential learning. The spatial information layers and physical infrastructure have been adopted by two specific yet diverse user groups with an interest in the long-term research focus of SERF.

The effect of metamictization on the Raman spectroscopy of the uranyl titanate mineral davidite (La,Ce)(Y,U,Fe2+)(Ti,Fe3+)20(O,OH)38

Raman spectra of the uranyl titanate mineral davidite-(La) (La,Ce)(Y,U,Fe2+)(Ti,Fe3+)20(O,OH)38 were analysed and related to the mineral structure. Observed bands are attributed to the TiO and (UO2)2+ stretching and bending vibrations, U-OH bending vibrations, H2O and (OH)- stretching, bending and libration modes. U-O bond lengths in uranyls and O-H…O bond lengths are calculated from the wavenumbers assigned to the stretching vibrations. Raman bands of davidite-(La) are in harmony with those of the uranyl oxyhydroxides. The mineral davidite-(La) is metamict as is evidenced by the intensity of the UO stretching and bending modes being of lower intensity than expected and with bands that are significantly broader.

New insights into Crustal Contributions to Large-volume Rhyolite Generation in the Mid-Tertiary Sierra Madre Occidental Province, Mexico, revealed by U Pb Geochronology

Voluminous (≥3·9 × 105 km3), prolonged (∼18 Myr) explosive silicic volcanism makes the mid-Tertiary Sierra Madre Occidental province of Mexico one of the largest intact silicic volcanic provinces known. Previous models have proposed an assimilation–fractional crystallization origin for the rhyolites involving closed-system fractional crystallization from crustally contaminated andesitic parental magmas, with <20% crustal contributions. The lack of isotopic variation among the lower crustal xenoliths inferred to represent the crustal contaminants and coeval Sierra Madre Occidental rhyolite and basaltic andesite to andesite volcanic rocks has constrained interpretations for larger crustal contributions. Here, we use zircon age populations as probes to assess crustal involvement in Sierra Madre Occidental silicic magmatism. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analyses of zircons from rhyolitic ignimbrites from the northeastern and southwestern sectors of the province yield U–Pb ages that show significant age discrepancies of 1–4 Myr compared with previously determined K/Ar and 40Ar/39Ar ages from the same ignimbrites; the age differences are greater than the errors attributable to analytical uncertainty. Zircon xenocrysts with new overgrowths in the Late Eocene to earliest Oligocene rhyolite ignimbrites from the northeastern sector provide direct evidence for some involvement of Proterozoic crustal materials, and, potentially more importantly, the derivation of zircon from Mesozoic and Eocene age, isotopically primitive, subduction-related igneous basement. The youngest rhyolitic ignimbrites from the southwestern sector show even stronger evidence for inheritance in the age spectra, but lack old inherited zircon (i.e. Eocene or older). Instead, these Early Miocene ignimbrites are dominated by antecrystic zircons, representing >33 to ∼100% of the dated population; most antecrysts range in age between ∼20 and 32 Ma. A sub-population of the antecrystic zircons is chemically distinct in terms of their high U (>1000 ppm to 1·3 wt %) and heavy REE contents; these are not present in the Oligocene ignimbrites in the northeastern sector of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The combination of antecryst zircon U–Pb ages and chemistry suggests that much of the zircon in the youngest rhyolites was derived by remelting of partially molten to solidified igneous rocks formed during preceding phases of Sierra Madre Occidental volcanism. Strong Zr undersaturation, and estimations for very rapid dissolution rates of entrained zircons, preclude coeval mafic magmas being parental to the rhyolite magmas by a process of lower crustal assimilation followed by closed-system crystal fractionation as interpreted in previous studies of the Sierra Madre Occidental rhyolites. Mafic magmas were more probably important in providing a long-lived heat and material flux into the crust, resulting in the remelting and recycling of older crust and newly formed igneous materials related to Sierra Madre Occidental magmatism.

Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl titanate mineral brannerite (U,Ca,Y,Ce)2(Ti,Fe)2O6 –Effect of Metamictization

Raman spectra of the uranyl titanate mineral brannerite were analysed and related to the mineral structure. A comparison is made with the Raman spectra of uranyl oxyhydroxide hydrates. Observed bands are attributed to the TiO and (UO2)2+ stretching and bending vibrations, U-OH bending vibrations, H2O and (OH)- stretching, bending and libration modes. U-O bond lengths in uranyls and O-H…O bond lengths are calculated from the wavenumbers assigned to the stretching vibrations. Raman bands of brannerite are in harmony with those of the uranyl oxyhydroxides. The mineral brannerite is metamict as is evidenced by the intensity of the UO stretching and bending modes being of lower intensity than expected and with bands that are significantly broader.