The Amplifier - v. 2, no. 10

In this issue...American Legion, Spring Sport Carnival, Butte, Montana, Coach Olsen, Butte Civic Center, Arnold Air Society, St. James Hospital, Travonia Mine

The Amplifier - v. 3, no. 2

In this issue...Boeing Aircraft, Shell Oil Company, Hugo Pulju, mauled grizzly bear, Dean McAuliffe, Geology, Rocky Mountains, Coach Olsen, Petroleum Department

The Amplifier - v. 3, no. 5

In This issue...Veterans, Geology, Columbia Valley Debate Tournament, Coach Olsen, Agriculture, Kaiser Aluminum Company, Sheer Oil Company, Professor Albertson

The Amplifier - V. 4, no. 10

In this issue...Butte Rotary Club, Professor K. S. Stout, Red Cross, Reader's Digest, chess club, School of Mines Seismograph, Hungry Horse Dam, Ralph Olsen

The Other Side of the Doors: Butte & Beyond -- Congressman Pat Williams “In the Crucible of Change”

Pat Williams emerged from the Mining City of Butte, Montana with a sense of grassroots, people-oriented politics. His inherent belief in the power of ordinary citizens carried him through the Montana Legislature and into Congress for a record-setting period. The accomplishments of his long career partially obscured his innate progressive and populist instinct that is reflective of the period of “in the Crucible of Change.” This film addresses Pat’s early years when his progressive instincts and activities resulted in pushback from the giant Anaconda Company which had held Montana hostage for 75 years. Pat is joined for part of the film by former campaign staffer, and now prominent media consultant, Michael Fenenbock for reflections on Pat’s 1978 “Door-to-Door to Congress” campaign, which demonstrated the power of his belief in the people on the other side of the doors. Pat Williams (b. 1937) rose from teaching grade school in his hometown of Butte, MT, to serving for the longest number of consecutive terms (9 terms, 18 years) in the US House of Representatives of anyone in Montana history. Pat was a member of the National Guard and attended UM in Missoula and William Jewel College, graduating from the University of Denver. Pat also served in the Montana legislature for 2 terms (1966 & 1968 elections). In 1969. Pat helped his legislative seat-mate John Melcher get elected as Montana’s Eastern District Congressman in the Special Election that June. Pat went to Washington DC as Melcher’s Executive Assistant. Upon returning to Montana, Pat headed up the Montana offices of the innovative Mountain Plains Family Education Program. In 1974, Pat ran unsuccessfully for Montana’s Western District Congressional seat in a three-way race with former Congressman Arnold Olsen and state Legislator Max Baucus. After the drafting and passage of the 1972 Montana Constitution, Pat was named a member of Montana’s first-ever Reapportionment Commission. In 1978 he successfully ran for Congress, conducting a massive grass-roots door-to-door campaign of 1½ years, reaching 50,000 doors. In a hotly contested 6-way Democratic primary, Pat won going away and also handily won the general election. Pat served in Congress from January, 1979 until January of 1997, 14 years representing the Western District and 4 years representing the entire state. Upon his retirement from Congress, in 1997 Williams returned to Montana where has been an instructor at the University of Montana and Senior Fellow and Regional Policy Associate at the Center for the Rocky Mountain West. He is a former member of the Montana Board of Regents and serves on a number of national education-related boards. In Congress Pat was a Deputy Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives and sat on committees on: Budget, Natural Resources, Education and Labor, and Agriculture. Pat’s leadership helped pass trailblazing legislation to assist hard-working middle-class families and ensure opportunities for every child. Pat’s fingerprints are on many pieces of important legislation, including the College Middle Income Assistance Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Toddlers and Childhood Disability Act, the Library Services and Construction Act, and the Museum Services Act. Pat successfully sponsored the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area and the Rattlesnake Wilderness area, helped save the Bob Marshall Wilderness from oil and gas exploration, and helped ban geothermal energy drilling near the borders of Yellowstone National Park. As Chairman of The Post-Secondary Education Committee, he protected the National Endowment for the Arts from elimination, a remarkable undertaking during a very trying time for the Agency. Pat worked tirelessly with Tribal College Leaders to build Montana’s seven Tribal Colleges. He was also responsible for the legislation that created The American Conservation Corps, which became the Corporation for National Service, giving thousands of America’s young people a chance to serve their country and pursue higher education. Pat lives in Missoula with his wife Carol Griffith Williams, former Montana Senate Majority Leader. They have three children and five grandchildren.

Evolution of the leukotoxin promoter in genus Mannheimia

BACKGROUND: The Mannheimia species encompass a wide variety of bacterial lifestyles, including opportunistic pathogens and commensals of the ruminant respiratory tract, commensals of the ovine rumen, and pathogens of the ruminant integument. Here we present a scenario for the evolution of the leukotoxin promoter among representatives of the five species within genus Mannheimia. We also consider how the evolution of the leukotoxin operon fits with the evolution and maintenance of virulence. RESULTS: The alignment of the intergenic regions upstream of the leukotoxin genes showed significant sequence and positional conservation over a 225-bp stretch immediately proximal to the transcriptional start site of the lktC gene among all Mannheimia strains. However, in the course of the Mannheimia genome evolution, the acquisition of individual noncoding regions upstream of the conserved promoter region has occurred. The rate of evolution estimated branch by branch suggests that the conserved promoter may be affected to different extents by the types of natural selection that potentially operate in regulatory regions. Tandem repeats upstream of the core promoter were confined to M. haemolytica with a strong association between the sequence of the repeat units, the number of repeat units per promoter, and the phylogenetic history of this species. CONCLUSION: The mode of evolution of the intergenic regions upstream of the leukotoxin genes appears to be highly dependent on the lifestyle of the bacterium. Transition from avirulence to virulence has occurred at least once in M. haemolytica with some evolutionary success of bovine serotype A1/A6 strains. Our analysis suggests that changes in cis-regulatory systems have contributed to the derived virulence phenotype by allowing phase-variable expression of the leukotoxin protein. We propose models for how phase shifting and the associated virulence could facilitate transmission to the nasopharynx of new hosts.

Emended description of porcine [Pasteurella] aerogenes, [Pasteurella] mairii and [Actinobacillus] rossii

The aim of this study was to improve the definition and identification of a group of veterinarily important bacteria referred to as the [Pasteurella] aerogenes-[Pasteurella] mairii-[Actinobacillus] rossii complex. These organisms have mainly been isolated from the reproductive and intestinal tracts of pigs and in most cases have been considered as opportunistic pathogens. A collection of 87 strains were characterized by phenotypic analysis from which 41 strains were selected for 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison, out of which 23 have been sequenced in the present study. One group of 21 strains phenotyped as biovars 1, 3-5, 9-11, 19 and 25-27, including the type strain of [P.] aerogenes, showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 99.6 % or higher; another group of 18 strains including biovars 2, 6-8, 12-15, 21, 23, 24 and 26A and the type strain of [A.] rossii showed 97.8 % or higher 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Between the two groups, 93.8-95.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was observed. Strains of [P.] mairii showed 99.5 % similarity, with 95.5-97.2 and 93.8-95.5 % similarity to strains of [P.] aerogenes and [A.] rossii, respectively. Four strains could not be classified with any of these groups and belonged to other members of Pasteurellaceae. Comparisons were also made to DNA-DNA hybridization data. Biovars 1, 9, 10, 11 and 19, including the type strain of [P.] aerogenes, linked at 70 % DNA reassociation, whereas strains identified as biovars 2, 6, 7, 8, 12, 15 and 21 of [P.] aerogenes linked at 81 %. The latter group most likely represents [A.] rossii based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons. DNA reassociation between the [P.] aerogenes and [A.] rossii groups was at most 37 %, whereas 47 % was the highest DNA reassociation found between [P.] aerogenes and [P.] mairii. The study showed that [P.] aerogenes, [P.] mairii and [A.] rossii can not be easily separated and may consequently be misidentified based on current knowledge of their phenotypic characteristics. In addition, these taxa are difficult to separate from other taxa of the Pasteurellaceae. A revised scheme for separation based upon phenotypic characters is suggested for the three species [P.] aerogenes emend., [P.] mairii emend. and [A.] rossii emend., with the respective type strains ATCC 27883T, NCTC 10699T and ATCC 27072T.

Comparative phylogenies of the housekeeping genes atpD, infB and rpoB and the 16S rRNA gene within the Pasteurellaceae

Phylogenies of housekeeping gene and 16S rRNA gene sequences were compared to improve the classification of the bacterial family Pasteurellaceae and knowledge of the evolutionary relationships of its members. Deduced partial protein sequences of the housekeeping genes atpD, infB and rpoB were compared in 28, 36 and 28 representative taxa of the Pasteurellaceae, respectively. The monophyly of representatives of the genus Gallibacterium was recognized by analysis of all housekeeping genes, while members of Mannheimia, Actinobacillus sensu stricto and the core group of Pasteurella sensu stricto formed monophyletic groups with two out of three housekeeping genes. Representatives of Mannheimia, Actinobacillus sensu stricto, [Haemophilus] ducreyi and [Pasteurella] trehalosi formed a monophyletic unit by analysis of all three housekeeping genes, which was in contrast to the 16S rRNA gene-derived phylogeny, where these taxa occurred at separate positions in the phylogenetic tree. Representatives of the Rodent, Avian and Aphrophilus-Haemophilus 16S rRNA gene groups were weakly supported by phylogenetic analysis of housekeeping genes. Phylogenies derived by comparison of the housekeeping genes diverged significantly from the 16S rRNA gene-derived phylogeny as evaluated by the likelihood ratio test. A low degree of congruence was also observed between the individual housekeeping gene-derived phylogenies. Estimates on speciation derived from 16S rRNA and housekeeping gene sequence comparisons resulted in quite different evolutionary scenarios for members of the Pasteurellaceae. The phylogeny based on the housekeeping genes supported observed host associations between Mannheimia, Actinobacillus sensu stricto and [Pasteurella] trehalosi and animals with paired hooves.

Is characterization of a single isolate sufficient for valid publication of a new genus or species? Proposal to modify recommendation 30b of the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision)

From 1990 to 2000, the number of published named taxa based upon new isolates at species and genus levels in International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, formerly International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology, have increased by approximately four- and sevenfold, respectively. New taxa based upon characterization of only a single isolate remained at around 40% for both categories. The Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision) has no recommendations on the number of strains required for definition of new taxa. For a few groups, a minimum number of 5-10 strains has been suggested in minimal standards. Since an exponential increase in new taxa can be expected in the future, the authors discuss problems related to naming new species and genera based upon descriptions of a single isolate and suggest that this practice is re-evaluated. It is proposed that the following should be added to Recommendation 30b of the Bacteriological Code: 'Descriptions should be based on as many strains as possible (minimum five), representing different sources with respect to geography and ecology in order to be well characterized both phenotypically and genotypically, to establish the centre (from which the type strain could be chosen) and the extent of the cluster to be named. In addition, comparative studies should be performed, including reference strains that represent neighbouring species and/or genera, in order to give descriptions that are sufficiently detailed to allow differentiation from these neighbours.'

A universal description of ultraslow glass dynamics

The dynamics of glass is of importance in materials science but its nature has not yet been fully understood. Here we report that a verification of the temperature dependencies of the primary relaxation time or viscosity in the ultraslowing/ultraviscous domain of glass-forming systems can be carried out via the analysis of the inverse of the Dyre-Olsen temperature index. The subsequent analysis of experimental data indicates the possibility of the self-consistent description of glass-forming low-molecular-weight liquids, polymers, liquid crystals, orientationally disordered crystals and Ising spin-glass-like systems, as well as the prevalence of equations associated with the 'finite temperature divergence'. All these lead to a new formula for the configurational entropy in glass-forming systems. Furthermore, a link to the dominated local symmetry for a given glass former is identified here. Results obtained show a new relationship between the glass transition and critical phenomena.

Historical and idealized climate model experiments: an intercomparison of Earth system models of intermediate complexity

Both historical and idealized climate model experiments are performed with a variety of Earth system models of intermediate complexity (EMICs) as part of a community contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report. Historical simulations start at 850 CE and continue through to 2005. The standard simulations include changes in forcing from solar luminosity, Earth's orbital configuration, CO2, additional greenhouse gases, land use, and sulphate and volcanic aerosols. In spite of very different modelled pre-industrial global surface air temperatures, overall 20th century trends in surface air temperature and carbon uptake are reasonably well simulated when compared to observed trends. Land carbon fluxes show much more variation between models than ocean carbon fluxes, and recent land fluxes appear to be slightly underestimated. It is possible that recent modelled climate trends or climate–carbon feedbacks are overestimated resulting in too much land carbon loss or that carbon uptake due to CO2 and/or nitrogen fertilization is underestimated. Several one thousand year long, idealized, 2 × and 4 × CO2 experiments are used to quantify standard model characteristics, including transient and equilibrium climate sensitivities, and climate–carbon feedbacks. The values from EMICs generally fall within the range given by general circulation models. Seven additional historical simulations, each including a single specified forcing, are used to assess the contributions of different climate forcings to the overall climate and carbon cycle response. The response of surface air temperature is the linear sum of the individual forcings, while the carbon cycle response shows a non-linear interaction between land-use change and CO2 forcings for some models. Finally, the preindustrial portions of the last millennium simulations are used to assess historical model carbon-climate feedbacks. Given the specified forcing, there is a tendency for the EMICs to underestimate the drop in surface air temperature and CO2 between the Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Little Ice Age estimated from palaeoclimate reconstructions. This in turn could be a result of unforced variability within the climate system, uncertainty in the reconstructions of temperature and CO2, errors in the reconstructions of forcing used to drive the models, or the incomplete representation of certain processes within the models. Given the forcing datasets used in this study, the models calculate significant land-use emissions over the pre-industrial period. This implies that land-use emissions might need to be taken into account, when making estimates of climate–carbon feedbacks from palaeoclimate reconstructions.

Long-term climate change commitment and reversibility: An EMIC Intercomparison

This paper summarizes the results of an intercomparison project with Earth System Models of Intermediate Complexity (EMICs) undertaken in support of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). The focus is on long-term climate projections designed to 1) quantify the climate change commitment of different radiative forcing trajectories and 2) explore the extent to which climate change is reversible on human time scales. All commitment simulations follow the four representative concentration pathways (RCPs) and their extensions to year 2300. Most EMICs simulate substantial surface air temperature and thermosteric sea level rise commitment following stabilization of the atmospheric composition at year-2300 levels. The meridional overturning circulation (MOC) is weakened temporarily and recovers to near-preindustrial values in most models for RCPs 2.6-6.0. The MOC weakening is more persistent for RCP8.5. Elimination of anthropogenic CO2 emissions after 2300 results in slowly decreasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. At year 3000 atmospheric CO2 is still at more than half its year-2300 level in all EMICs for RCPs 4.5-8.5. Surface air temperature remains constant or decreases slightly and thermosteric sea level rise continues for centuries after elimination of CO2 emissions in all EMICs. Restoration of atmospheric CO2 from RCP to preindustrial levels over 100-1000 years requires large artificial removal of CO2 from the atmosphere and does not result in the simultaneous return to preindustrial climate conditions, as surface air temperature and sea level response exhibit a substantial time lag relative to atmospheric CO2.