How terrorist campaigns end : The Rode Jeugd in the Netherlands and the Symbionese Liberation Army in the United States

This study explores the decline of terrorism by conducting source-based case studies on two left-wing terrorist campaigns in the 1970s, those of the Rode Jeugd in the Netherlands and the Symbionese Liberation Army in the United States. The purpose of the case studies is to bring more light into the interplay of different external and internal factors in the development of terrorist campaigns. This is done by presenting the history of the two chosen campaigns as narratives from the participants’ points of view, based on interviews with participants and extensive archival material. Organizational resources and dynamics clearly influenced the course of the two campaigns, but in different ways. This divergence derives at least partly from dissimilarities in organizational design and the incentive structure. Comparison of even these two cases shows that organizations using terrorism as a strategy can differ significantly, even when they share ideological orientation, are of the same size and operate in the same time period. Theories on the dynamics of terrorist campaigns would benefit from being more sensitive to this. The study also highlights that the demise of a terrorist organization does not necessarily lead to the decline of the terrorist campaign. Therefore, research should look at the development of terrorist activity beyond the lifespan of a single organization. The collective ideological beliefs and goals functioned primarily as a sustaining force, a lens through which the participants interpreted all developments. On the other hand, it appears that the role of ideology should not be overstated. Namely, not all participants in the campaigns under study fully internalized the radical ideology. Rather, their participation was mainly based on their friendship with other participants. Instead of ideology per se, it is more instructive to look at how those involved described their organization, themselves and their role in the revolutionary struggle. In both cases under study, the choice of the terrorist strategy was not merely a result of a cost-benefit calculation, but an important part of the participants’ self-image. Indeed, the way the groups portrayed themselves corresponded closely with the forms of action that they got involved in. Countermeasures and the lack of support were major reasons for the decline of the campaigns. However, what is noteworthy is that the countermeasures would not have had the same kind of impact had it not been for certain weaknesses of the groups themselves. Moreover, besides the direct impact the countermeasures had on the campaign, equally important was how they affected the attitudes of the larger left-wing community and the public in general. In this context, both the attitudes towards the terrorist campaign and the authorities were relevant to the outcome of the campaigns.

Rate of ribonucleic acid chain growth in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv.

Two methods were employed to measure the rate of ribonucleic acid (RNA) chain growth in vivo in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv cultures growing in Sauton medium at 37 degrees C, with a generation time of 10 h. In the first, the bacteria were allowed to assimilate [3H]uracil or [3H]guanine into their RNA for short time periods. The RNA was then extracted and hydrolyzed with alkali, and the radioactivity in the resulting nucleotides and nucleosides was measured. The data obtained by this method allowed the calculation of the individual nucleotide step times during the growth of RNA chains, from which the average rate of RNA chain elongation was estimated to be about 4 nucleotides per s. The second method employed the antibiotic rifampin, which specifically inhibits the initiation of RNA synthesis without interfering with the elongation and completion of nascent RNA chains. Usint this method, the transcription time of the 16S, 23S, and 5S ribosomal RNA genes was estimated to be 7.6 min, which corresponds to a ribosomal RNA chain growth rate of 10 nucleotides per s.

Redox-linked proton transfer by cytochrome c oxidase

The respiratory chain is found in the inner mitochondrial membrane of higher organisms and in the plasma membrane of many bacteria. It consists of several membrane-spanning enzymes, which conserve the energy that is liberated from the degradation of food molecules as an electrochemical proton gradient across the membrane. The proton gradient can later be utilized by the cell for different energy requiring processes, e.g. ATP production, cellular motion or active transport of ions. The difference in proton concentration between the two sides of the membrane is a result of the translocation of protons by the enzymes of the respiratory chain, from the negatively charged (N-side) to the positively charged side (P-side) of the lipid bilayer, against the proton concentration gradient. The endergonic proton transfer is driven by the flow of electrons through the enzymes of the respiratory chain, from low redox-potential electron donors to acceptors of higher potential, and ultimately to oxygen. Cytochrome c oxidase is the last enzyme in the respiratory chain and catalyzes the reduction of dioxygen to water. The redox reaction is coupled to proton transport across the membrane by a yet unresolved mechanism. Cytochrome c oxidase has two proton-conducting pathways through which protons are taken up to the interior part of the enzyme from the N-side of the membrane. The K-pathway transfers merely substrate protons, which are consumed in the process of water formation at the catalytic site. The D-pathway transfers both substrate protons and protons that are pumped to the P-side of the membrane. This thesis focuses on the role of two conserved amino acids in proton translocation by cytochrome c oxidase, glutamate 278 and tryptophan 164. Glu278 is located at the end of the D-pathway and is thought to constitute the branching point for substrate and pumped protons. In this work, it was shown that although Glu278 has an important role in the proton transfer mechanism, its presence is not an obligatory requirement. Alternative structural solutions in the area around Glu278, much like the ones present in some distantly related heme-copper oxidases, could in the absence of Glu278 support the formation of a long hydrogen-bonded water chain through which proton transfer from the D-pathway to the catalytic site is possible. The other studied amino acid, Trp164, is hydrogen bonded to the ∆-propionate of heme a3 of the catalytic site. Mutation of this amino acid showed that it may be involved in regulation of proton access to a proton acceptor, a pump site, from which the proton later is expelled to the P-side of the membrane. The ion pair that is formed by the ∆-propionate of heme a3 and arginine 473 is likely to form a gate-like structure, which regulates proton mobility to the P-side of the membrane. The same gate may also be part of an exit path through which water molecules produced at the catalytically active site are removed towards the external side of the membrane. Time-resolved optical and electrometrical experiments with the Trp164 to phenylalanine mutant revealed a so far undetected step in the proton pumping mechanism. During the A to PR transition of the catalytic cycle, a proton is transferred from Glu278 to the pump site, located somewhere in the vicinity of the ∆-propionate of heme a3. A mechanism for proton pumping by cytochrome c oxidase is proposed on the basis of the presented results and the mechanism is discussed in relation to some relevant experimental data. A common proton pumping mechanism for all members of the heme-copper oxidase family is moreover considered.

LFA-1 Integrin beta2 Chain Phosphorylation Regulates Protein Interactions and Mediates Signals in T Cells

Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane adhesion receptors composed of alpha- and beta-subunits and they are vital for the function of multicellular organisms. Integrin-mediated adhesion is a complex process involving both affinity regulation and coupling to the actin cytoskeleton. Integrins also function as bidirectional signaling devices, regulating cell adhesion and migration after inside-out signaling, but also signal into the cell to regulate growth, differentiation and apoptosis after ligand binding. The LFA-1 integrin is exclusively expressed in leukocytes and is of fundamental importance for the function of the immune system. The LFA-1 integrins have short intracellular tails, which are devoid of catalytic activity. These cytoplasmic domains are important for integrin regulation and both the alpha and beta chain become phosphorylated. The alpha chain is constitutively phosphorylated, but the beta chain becomes phosphorylated on serine and functionally important threonine residues only after cell activation. The cytoplasmic tails of LFA-1 bind to many cytoskeletal and signaling proteins regulating numerous cell functions. However, the molecular mechanisms behind these interactions have been poorly understood. Phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic tails of the LFA-1 integrin could provide a mechanism to regulate integrin-mediated cytoskeletal interactions and take part in T cell signaling. In this study, the effects of phosphorylation of LFA-1 integrin cytoplasmic tails on different cellular functions were examined. Site-specific phosphorylation of both the alpha- and beta-chains of the LFA-1 was shown to have a role in the regulation of the LFA-1 integrin.Alpha-chain Ser1140 is needed for integrin conformational changes after chemokine- or integrin ligand-induced activation or after activation induced by active Rap1, whereas beta-chain binds to 14-3-3 proteins through the phosphorylated Thr758 and mediates cytoskeletal reorganization. Thr758 phosphorylation also acts as a molecular switch to inhibit filamin binding and allows 14-3-3 protein binding to integrin cytoplasmic domain, and it was also shown to lead to T cell adhesion, Rac-1/Cdc42 activation and expression of the T cell activation marker CD69, indicating a signaling function for Thr758 phosphorylation in T cells. Thus, phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic tails of LFA-1 plays an important role in different functions of the LFA-1 integrin in T cells. It is of vital importance to study the mechanisms and components of integrin regulation since leukocyte adhesion is involved in many functions of the immune system and defects in the regulation of LFA-1 contributes to auto-immune diseases and fundamental defects in the immune system.

Improvement in the voltage grading (axial and radial) of the generator column of a Van de Graaf generator by the use of a resistor chain

It is well known that the use of a series of resistors, connected between the equipotential rings of a Van de Graaff generator, improves the axial voltage grading of the generator. The work reported in this paper shows how the resistor chain also improves the radial voltage gradient. The electrolytic field mapping technique was adopted in the present work.

Entanglement production due to quench dynamics of an anisotropic XY chain in a transverse field

We compute concurrence and negativity as measures of two-spin entanglement generated by a power-law quench (characterized by a rate tau(-1) and an exponent alpha) which takes an anisotropic XY chain in a transverse field through a quantum critical point (QCP). We show that only spins separated by an even number of lattice spacings get entangled in such a process. Moreover, there is a critical rate of quench, tau(-1)(c), above which no two-spin entanglement is generated; the entire entanglement is multipartite. The ratio of the entanglements between consecutive even neighbors can be tuned by changing the quench rate. We also show that for large tau, the concurrence (negativity) scales as root alpha/tau(alpha/tau), and we relate this scaling behavior to defect production by the quench through a QCP.

On the ecology of cold-water phytoplankton in the Baltic Sea

Increased anthropogenic loading of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) has led to an eutrophication problem in the Baltic Sea, and the spring bloom is a key component in the biological uptake of increased nutrient concentrations. The spring bloom in the Baltic Sea is dominated by both diatoms and dinoflagellates. However, the sedimentation of these groups is different: diatoms tend to sink to the sea floor at the end of the bloom, while dinoflagellates to a large degree are been remineralized in the euphotic zone. Understanding phytoplankton competition and species specific ecological strategies is thus of importance for assessing indirect effects of phytoplankton community composition on eutrophication problems. The main objective of this thesis was to describe some basic physiological and ecological characteristics of the main cold-water diatoms and dinoflagellates in the Baltic Sea. This was achieved by specific studies of: (1) seasonal vertical positioning, (2) dinoflagellate life cycle, (3) mixotrophy, (4) primary production, respiration and growth and (5) diatom silicate uptake, using cultures of common cold-water diatoms: Chaetoceros wighamii, C. gracilis, Pauliella taeniata, Thalassiosira baltica, T. levanderi, Melosira arctica, Diatoma tenuis, Nitzschia frigida, and dinoflagellates: Peridiniella catenata, Woloszynskia halophila and Scrippsiella hangoei. The diatoms had higher primary production capacity and lower respiration rate compared with the dinoflagellates. This difference was reflected in the maximum growth rate, which for the examined diatoms range from 0.6 to 1.2 divisions d-1, compared with 0.2 to 0.3 divisions d-1 for the dinoflagellates. Among diatoms there were species specific differences in light utilization and uptake of silicate, and C. wighamii had the highest carbon assimilation capacity and maximum silicate uptake. The physiological properties of diatoms and dinoflagellates were used in a model of the onset of the spring bloom: for the diatoms the model could predict the initiation of the spring bloom; S. hangoei, on the other hand, could not compete successfully and did not obtain positive growth in the model. The other dinoflagellates did not have higher growth rates or carbon assimilation rates and would thus probably not perform better than S. hangoei in the model. The dinoflagellates do, however, have competitive advantages that were not included in the model: motility and mixotrophy. Previous investigations has revealed that the chain-forming P. catenata performs diurnal vertical migration (DVM), and the results presented here suggest that active positioning in the water column, in addition to DVM, is a key element in this species' life strategy. There was indication of mixotrophy in S. hangoei, as it produced and excreted the enzyme leucine aminopeptidase (LAP). Moreover, there was indirect evidence that W. halophila obtains carbon from other sources than photosynthesis when comparing increase in cell numbers with in situ carbon assimilation rates. The results indicate that mixotrophy is a part of the strategy of vernal dinoflagellates in the Baltic Sea. There were also indications that the seeding of the spring bloom is very important for the dinoflagellates to succeed. In mesocosm experiments dinoflagellates could not compete with diatoms when their initial numbers were low. In conclusion, this thesis has provided new information about the basic physiological and ecological properties of the main cold-water phytoplankton in the Baltic Sea. The main phytoplankton groups, diatoms and dinoflagellates, have different physiological properties, which clearly separate their life strategies. The information presented here could serve as further steps towards better prognostic models of the effects of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea.

Synthesis, characterization, thermal degradation, and comparative chain dynamics studies of weak-link polysulfide polymers

Synthesis, spectroscopic and thermal characterization of two new classes of polysulfide polymers: poly[1(phenoxymethyl) ethylene polysulfide] (PPMEP), and poly [1-(phenoxy) ethylene polysulfide] (PPEP) is presented. The direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry (DP-MS) technique, used to study the thermal degradation behavior of these polysulfide polymers, indicated that the polymers underwent degradation through the weak-links scission. The thermal stability of the polysulfide polymers decreased as the ``rank'' (number of sulfur atoms in the polysulfide linkage; n=1, 2, 4) increased. The main-chain flexibility of these polysulfide polymers in terms of their C-13 NMR spinlattice relaxation time (T-1) measurements on the backbone methine (-CH-) and methylene (-CH2-) carbons are reported here for the first time. A comparative study of the solution chain dynamics indicated that it increased as ``rank'' of the polysulfide linkages decreased as well as by introducing side chain spacers such as, ether (-O-) or methyleneoxy (-CH2O-) groups.

Conformational studies of the triphenylphosphazenyl side chain in cyclophosphazenes. II. Crystal and molecular structure of 2,4,4,6,6,8,8-heptachloro-2-triphenylphosphazenylcyclotetra(phosphazene), N4P4Cl7(NPPh3)

Abstract is not available.

Guest editorial: End of life law, ethics, policy and practice

The International Conference on End of Life: Law, Ethics, Policy and Practice was held at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia in August 2014. It was co-hosted by the Australian Centre for Health Law Research, the Dalhousie Health Law Institute (Canada) and the Tsinghua Health Law Research Center (China). The conference attracted almost 350 delegates from 26 countries and included representation from over a dozen different disciplines with an interest in end of life care.

Fast forward to the end: Stories of the cassette magazine

Although they made up a significant share of the retail music market from the 60s to the 90s, and were often used as promotional and marketing tools, cassettes became re-configured in the 80s as an integral component of cassette magazines. Binding sound, music, talk, text, visual art and design, they were a truly innovative interdisciplinary form. This paper explores the history of these artefacts with particular emphasis on the Brisbane underground music scene of the late 70s and 80s, and discusses their significance in as a bridge between the music scene and art scenes of this period.

Too ill to will? deathbed wills: assessing testamentary capacity near the end of life

Assessing testamentary capacity in the terminal phase of an illness or at a person's deathbed is fraught with challenges for both doctors and lawyers. Numerous issues need to be considered when assessing capacity for a will. These issues are exacerbated when such an assessment needs to be undertaken at the bedside of a dying patient. The nature and severity of the illness, effects on cognition of the terminal illness, effects of medication, urgency, psychological and emotional factors, interactions with carers, family and lawyers, and a range of other issues confound and complicate the assessment of capacity. What is the doctor's role in properly assessing capacity in this context and how does this role intersect with the legal issues? Doctors will play an increasing role in assessing testamentary capacity in this setting. The ageing of society, more effective treatment of acute illness and, often, the prolongation of dying are only some of the factors leading to this increasing need. However, despite its importance and increasing prevalence, the literature addressing this challenging practical area is scarce and offers limited guidance. This paper examines these challenges and discusses some practical approaches.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis FtsZ requires at least one arginine residue at the C-terminal end for polymerization in vitro

We examined whether C-terminal residues of soluble recombinant FtsZ of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtFtsZ) have any role in MtFtsZ polymerization in vitro. MtFtsZ-delta C1, which lacks C-terminal extreme Arg residue (underlined in the C-terminal extreme stretch of 13 residues, DDDDVDVPPFMRR), but retaining the penultimate Arg residue (DDDDVDVPPFMR), polymerizes like full-length MtFtsZ in vitro. However, MtFtsZ-delta C2 that lacks both the Arg residues at the C-terminus (DDDDVDVPPFM), neither polymerizes at pH 6.5 nor forms even single- or double-stranded filaments at pH 7.7 in the presence of 10 mM CaCl2. Neither replacement of the penultimate Arg residue, in the C-terminal Arg deletion mutant DDDDVDVPPFMR, with Lys or His or Ala or Asp (DDDDVDVPPFMK/H/A/D) enabled polymerization. Although MtFtsZ-delta C2 showed secondary and tertiary structural changes, which might have affected polymerization, GTPase activity of MtFtsZ-delta C2 was comparable to that of MtFtsZ. These data suggest that MtFtsZ requires an Arg residue as the extreme C-terminal residue for polymerization in vitro. The polypeptide segment containing C-terminal 67 residues, whose coordinates were absent from MtFtsZ crystal structure, was modeled on tubulin and MtFtsZ dimers. Possibilities for the influence of the C-terminal Arg residues on the stability of the dimer and thereby on MtFtsZ polymerization have been discussed.

A Model of Anomalous Chain Translocation Dynamics

A model of polymer translocation based on the stochastic dynamics of the number of monomers on one side of a pore-containing surface is formulated in terms of a one-dimensional generalized Langevin equation, in which the random force is assumed to be characterized by long-ranged temporal correlations. The model is introduced to rationalize anomalies in measured and simulated values of the average time of passage through the pore, which in general cannot be satisfactorily accounted for by simple Brownian diffusion mechanisms. Calculations are presented of the mean first passage time for barrier crossing and of the mean square displacement of a monomeric segment, in the limits of strong and weak diffusive bias. The calculations produce estimates of the exponents in various scaling relations that are in satisfactory agreement with available data.

Boson-fermion duality in SU(m vertical bar n) supersymmetric Haldane-Shastry spin chain

By using the Y(gl(m|n)) super Yangian symmetry of the SU(m|n) supersymmetric Haldane-Shastry spin chain, we show that the partition function of this model satisfies a duality relation under the exchange of bosonic and fermionic spin degrees of freedom. As a byproduct of this study of the duality relation, we find a novel combinatorial formula for the super Schur polynomials associated with some irreducible representations of the Y(gl(m|n)) Yangian algebra. Finally, we reveal an intimate connection between the global SU(m|n) symmetry of a spin chain and the boson-fermion duality relation. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.