Calpastatin-mediated inhibition of calpains in the mouse brain prevents mutant ataxin 3 proteolysis, nuclear localization and aggregation, relieving Machado-Joseph disease.

Machado-Joseph disease is the most frequently found dominantly-inherited cerebellar ataxia. Over-repetition of a CAG trinucleotide in the MJD1 gene translates into a polyglutamine tract within the ataxin 3 protein, which upon proteolysis may trigger Machado-Joseph disease. We investigated the role of calpains in the generation of toxic ataxin 3 fragments and pathogenesis of Machado-Joseph disease. For this purpose, we inhibited calpain activity in mouse models of Machado-Joseph disease by overexpressing the endogenous calpain-inhibitor calpastatin. Calpain blockage reduced the size and number of mutant ataxin 3 inclusions, neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration. By reducing fragmentation of ataxin 3, calpastatin overexpression modified the subcellular localization of mutant ataxin 3 restraining the protein in the cytoplasm, reducing aggregation and nuclear toxicity and overcoming calpastatin depletion observed upon mutant ataxin 3 expression. Our findings are the first in vivo proof that mutant ataxin 3 proteolysis by calpains mediates its translocation to the nucleus, aggregation and toxicity and that inhibition of calpains may provide an effective therapy for Machado-Joseph disease.

Discours de M. Littré prononcé à l'Académie française, le... 5 juin 1873. Discours de M. de Champagny,... en réponse au discours prononcé par M. Littré pour sa réception à l'Académie française...

Collection : Institut ; 1873, 59

[Illustrations de Architectura privata] / Matthias Rembold, grav. ; Joseph Furttenbach, aut. du texte

Comprend : [pl.2 double après p.6 : cinq modèles de fenêtres. Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209] ; [pl.3 double après p.6 : six modèles de fenêtres. Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209] ; [pl.4 double après p.6 : six modèles de fenêtres. Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209] ; [pl.5 double dépl. après p.6 : trois modèles de portes ou portails. Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209] ; [pl.6 double dépl. après p.6 : plan d'une maison. Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209] ; [pl.7 double dépl. après p.10 : plan d'une maison. Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209] ; [pl.8 double dépl. après p.14 : plan d'une maison. Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209] ; [pl.9 double dépl. après p.16 : plan d'une maison. Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209] ; [pl.910double dépl. après p.18 : plan d'un monastère? Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209] ; [pl.11 double dépl. après p.60 : coupe d'une fontaine-grotte rocaille. Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209] ; [pl.12 double dépl. après p.64 : dessin de la voûte d'une fontaine-grotte rocaille. Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209] ; [pl.13 double dépl. après p.68 : coupe et plan d'une fontaine-grotte rocaille avec vue du sytème hydraulique. Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209] ; [pl.14 double dépl. après p.74 : plans du système hydraulique alimentant une fontaine. Principes d'architecture.] [Cote : V 4282/Microfilm R 122 209]

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, January 23, 2013

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. January 23, 2013 THIS WEEK: Iowa’s Grasshopper Plague of 1873 BACKGROUND: Fifteen General Assembly The 15th General Assembly convened January 12 and adjourned March 19, 1874—a 67-day session. The Senate had six Democratic members, 34 Republican members, and 10 Independent members. The House of Representatives had six Democratic members, 50 Republican members, and 44 Independent members. There were a total of 150 legislators in Iowa. By 1874, the Capital had been relocated to Des Moines. The legislature had occupied the old Brick Capitol since 1858. Joseph Dysart was the Lieutenant Governor presiding in the Senate, and John Gear was Speaker of the House of Representatives. Iowa’s population at the 1870 federal census had grown to 1,194,020. Both House and Senate journals from the 15th Iowa General Assembly include several references to assisting the destitution brought on by the 1874 plague of grasshoppers in Northwestern Iowa. Senator Perkins, from the Special Committee appointed to inquire into the reports of destitution in the northwestern counties of Iowa, submitted the following report, in part: “We have examined such evidence as is attainable here, and made such inquiries of parties interested in affording temporary relief as were to be met, and are pieces satisfied in our own minds that the case is one of sufficient importance to command the attention of the State.”

Geomorphological method in the elaboration of hazard maps for flash-floods in the municipality of Jucuarán (El Salvador)

This work deals with the elaboration of flood hazard maps. These maps reflect the areas prone to floods based on the effects of Hurricane Mitch in the Municipality of Jucuarán of El Salvador. Stream channels located in the coastal range in the SE of El Salvador flow into the Pacific Ocean and generate alluvial fans. Communities often inhabit these fans can be affected by floods. The geomorphology of these stream basins is associated with small areas, steep slopes, well developed regolite and extensive deforestation. These features play a key role in the generation of flash-floods. This zone lacks comprehensive rainfall data and gauging stations. The most detailed topographic maps are on a scale of 1:25 000. Given that the scale was not sufficiently detailed, we used aerial photographs enlarged to the scale of 1:8000. The effects of Hurricane Mitch mapped on these photographs were regarded as the reference event. Flood maps have a dual purpose (1) community emergency plans, (2) regional land use planning carried out by local authorities. The geomorphological method is based on mapping the geomorphological evidence (alluvial fans, preferential stream channels, erosion and sedimentation, man-made terraces). Following the interpretation of the photographs this information was validated on the field and complemented by eyewitness reports such as the height of water and flow typology. In addition, community workshops were organized to obtain information about the evolution and the impact of the phenomena. The superimposition of this information enables us to obtain a comprehensive geomorphological map. Another aim of the study was the calculation of the peak discharge using the Manning and the paleohydraulic methods and estimates based on geomorphologic criterion. The results were compared with those obtained using the rational method. Significant differences in the order of magnitude of the calculated discharges were noted. The rational method underestimated the results owing to short and discontinuous periods of rainfall data with the result that probabilistic equations cannot be applied. The Manning method yields a wide range of results because of its dependence on the roughness coefficient. The paleohydraulic method yielded higher values than the rational and Manning methods. However, it should be pointed out that it is possible that bigger boulders could have been moved had they existed. These discharge values are lower than those obtained by the geomorphological estimates, i.e. much closer to reality. The flood hazard maps were derived from the comprehensive geomorphological map. Three categories of hazard were established (very high, high and moderate) using flood energy, water height and velocity flow deduced from geomorphological and eyewitness reports.